都柏林圣三一学院

What is Biochemistry?

Biochemistry deals with the structure and function of the building blocks of life, such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, and how these various components work together in living organisms. Biochemists have also helped develop key technologies and instruments that are used widely in the life and medical sciences. Biochemistry is thus an integral part of medicine and helps us understand the molecular basis of disease and pathological disorders and is concerned with the development of new therapeutics. All major pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in biochemistry to help aid their development of new drugs for cancer, infectious diseases and other pathological conditions. Biochemistry is also an essential component of biotechnology, where processes for the production of foods and fuels, and enzymes and other proteins are developed.

Biochemistry: The course for you?

If you are interested in chemistry or biology then biochemistry is a good choice for you. Biochemistry has a strong medical slant at Trinity and is an ideal choice if you are interested in biomedical sciences. Biochemistry is also a broad and practical discipline and provides training suitable for many career paths. So if your interests are broadly in the molecular side of the life sciences and medicine but are undecided about your exact career path then biochemistry is good choice for you.

Biochemistry @ Trinity

When you study biochemistry at Trinity you will have the opportunity to learn from leading researchers in cancer biology, obesity, diabetes, neurobiology, neurodegeneration, autoimmunity, parasitology, immune-metabolism, protein structure and drug development. Teaching and training takes place in a new state-of-the-art facility, the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, which allows interdisciplinary training in biomedical sciences. Special features of biochemistry teaching at Trinity is the use of small group (2-3 students) tutorials with an assigned member of staff in years three and four, a nine week individual Capstone research project in the laboratory of one of the fifteen principal investigators in biochemistry in your final year and hands on training within the most advanced core facilities for microscopy, cytometry, NMR and X-ray crystallography in the country.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

This degree will equip you to work in all major aspects of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Currently biochemistry graduates work in hospitals, commercial laboratories dealing with analysis, biotechnology, food science, pharmaceuticals or diagnostics. Biochemistry graduates also benefit from their training in critical thinking, analytical reasoning and presentation and communication skills. Consequently, our recent graduates are in high demand in careers not related directly to biochemistry such as communication, information systems, teaching, management, patent law and journalism. Examples of companies where biochemistry graduates from Trinity are employed include Abbot, Andor Technology, Kerry Group, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer. In addition, recent graduates also work in organisations such as the HSE, HPRA, Forensic Science Ireland, Teagasc and also in science journalism in RTÉ, BBC, Nature group. Biochemistry graduates are also employed in scientific administration in organisations such as the HRB, the Welcome Trust and the European Commission. Many graduates are also employed in teaching at second and third level.